It was an ordinary Tuesday in May. I decided to take a mid-day walk around my suburban New York neighborhood, in a community where my family has resided for nearly two decades. Suddenly, my laughs from a comedy podcast were interrupted. Within a span of 30 seconds, a vehicle I didn’t recognize stopped at a nearby stop sign.
I Survived a Hate Crime. Here’s How My Company Supported Me.
Hate crimes are at a 12-year high in the U.S. Employers must support survivors and their mental health.
October 31, 2022
HBR Staff/Ashish Jogi /EyeEm/Getty Images
Summary.
Hate crimes are at a disturbingly high rate in the U.S. What happens when one of your employees survives such a crime? The author, who is a victim of a hate crime himself, shares his story and describes why it can be so difficult to speak up about such an event at work. He then offers four suggestions to help managers who are part of an historically marginalized community: create psychological safety, respond with empathy, offer flexible work arrangements, and invest in tailored mental health resources.
New!
HBR Learning
Stress Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Stress Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to build resilience at work.
Learn More & See All Courses
New!
HBR Learning
HBR Learning
Stress Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Stress Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to build resilience at work.